Confidence restored for NY Jets after Monday night win over Dolphins, but questions still linger

Jets QB Mark Sanchez (l.) and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer still leave much to be desired in their performances, despite a win over the Dolphins Monday night. (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty)

For all the feel-good unity in every corner of the Jets' locker room in the aftermath of their Monday night win over the hapless Dolphins, none of it matters if Gang Green doesn't beat the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. The Jets needed to restore their confidence by snapping their three-game losing streak, but the 4-1 Chargers will be their first true test since their recent woes.

Plenty of questions remain. The Jets are 3-0 against losing teams with a combined 3-13 record and 0-3 against winning teams with a combined 13-4 record. The Chargers, coming off their bye week, are a mirror image, having won their four games against teams with a combined 4-17 mark.

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The Jets' repeated slow starts on offense are the most puzzling question surrounding Rex Ryan's team. The Jets have started the past two weeks with four consecutive three-and-outs. They've had 11three-and-outs on their last 22drives. Gang Green's offense has just 14 points on 22 first-quarter drives this season. "It's crazy," Ryan said. "It kind of blows me away. We search for answers....I'm just not sure. I'm at a loss. It just seems strange. But once we get past that stage and we start having a little success, then we start moving the ball effectively. I think that's certainly a challenge to us. I don't know. Drink coffee? I don't know what it is. We've got to find something."

The typically stout defense has also been shaky at times. On Monday, it allowed 173 yards in the first quarter before yielding just 135 for the rest of the game.

"There's been a little bit more bending than we really want to do," safety Jim Leonhard said. "We got a win, which is huge, but we're not going to overlook what happened in the first quarter....We're not going to sweep things under the rug, but at the same time, a win just kind of rights the ship and settles everybody down."

Ryan added that he isn't overly concerned that Plaxico Burress hasn't been more involved in the offense so far. Burress, who had one catch for 16 yards Monday night, has only 14 catches for 218 yards this season. Although Mark Sanchez is looking in Burress' direction - he has targeted him 37 times in six games - their chemistry is "just a little off," Ryan said. Sanchez has connected with Burress on 37.8% of those targets.

"I'm not down on Plax whatsoever," Ryan said. "I think there are going to be times when he will have 10 catches. I truly believe that is coming. It takes a while to get a feel for a guy. I think the chemistry is there. It's just a matter of fine-tuning just a little bit more....As the season goes on, you're going to see better and better chemistry and having the ball thrown to Plax more."

BLOCK PARTYAfter a week when Santonio Holmes called out the offensive line, Ryan said his unit did "a tremendous job" in pass protection against the Dolphins. Ryan also believed that the "offensive line has taken too much of the heat" this season.

GOING GREENERyan admitted that he'd like Shonn Greene to get about 25 carries a game. Greene rushed for 74 yards on 21 carries (3.5 yards per carry) against Miami, but nearly half of them (34) came on the Jets' final drive during garbage time.... Antonio Cromartie (groin pull) and Nick Mangold (ankle) will be limited in practice Wednesday, but are expected to play Sunday, Ryan said.

ISLAND HOPPING According to Pro Football Focus, Darrelle Revis was thrown at 14 times by the Dolphins. The All-Pro cornerback, who had two interceptions, including a 100-yard TD return, had been thrown at 14 times in the first five games combined. Opposing quarterbacks have a 4.9 rating when throwing at Revis... Jets waived DT Martin Tevaseu and released OL Dennis Landolt from the practice squad... Ryan praised third-round pick Kenrick Ellis, who had three combined tackles and one for a loss in his pro debut. Ellis' trial on a malicious wounding felony charge stemming from an incident at Hampton University was moved from Nov. 28 to Feb. 7, 2012, according to online court records.